Covenant School Blog

Kids who attend preschool are put in a much better position to succeed in their schooling throughout their childhood. Studies show they are more likely to graduate high school and go to college. They are also wind up being healthier and make more money than those who did not attend preschool or other early education programs.

What are the Benefits of Attending Preschool?

Preschool lays a foundation of skills children need to succeed in school and in life, such as working with others, sharing, cooperation, and communication. It is the time to set good learning habits that transfer from grade to grade as your child advances through the school system.

What Can You Look for To See If Your Child is Ready to Attend Preschool?

There is no formula or checklist to see if your child is ready for preschool, but there are some signs to look for and guidelines to follow when making that determination.

Potty Trained

Some preschools will allow for preschoolers who have not been potty trained, but that is generally a good sign your child is not quite ready for formal schooling. Sending your child to preschool in diapers can put extra pressure on them from the start.

Independence

Preschoolers are expected to be able to handle a certain amount of personal activities and needs on their own. Your child should be able to wash up on their own and eat without help, for example.

Plays Well With Others

For kids who have not had the opportunity to interact with others as a member of a group, it may be a rough adjustment to have to work and play well with others. It is one of the skills that preschool helps to hone, but not all children become ready at the same time.

What Happens If Your Child is Not Ready for Preschool?

It is better to wait until your child is ready than to put them in a position where they are not able to get what they can out of preschool. If you enroll your child in preschool too soon it can be stressful and set up a negative connotation to going to school.

While attending preschool has many benefits and advantages to your child’s development, it will not necessarily push them forward academically. Preschool is much more for learning socialization skills. If your child is delayed in starting preschool, that does not mean they will be falling behind the rest of their age group when it comes to reading or other academic pursuits.